Idolatry

Idolatry

“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” This is written in connection with God who is faithful and will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear.

We cannot worship idols and expect to endure in temptation. Only those who do not have an idol will not be tempted beyond what they are able to bear.

A personal idol is what I defer to and fear more than God, so that God’s will is not accomplished in my life. Therefore Jesus said that no one could be His disciple unless he forsook everything and even hated his own life. A person, who has not forsaken everything, has idols. This is also true of the person who does not hate his own life. Such people cannot endure in temptation.

Paul says that idols do not exist. There is only one God. In other words, there is only one God who can help and save, perform miracles, give life, and keep alive, and no one gives more than He does. Therefore it is of the utmost importance that we put all our trust in Him. Whatever we do not want to forsake are things in which we trust—instead of God—and count on for help in case the situation should change. These are idols that will deceive us. There is only one God who can help us, and those who put their trust in Him will never be put to shame. But those who have many other resources will inhabit the parched places in the wilderness. Jer. 17:5-6.

Paul asks, “What am I saying then? . . . That the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, . . . and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.” This light makes the matter far more serious. Putting one’s trust in something outside of God is the same as putting one’s trust in demons. Admiring the glory of this world is the same as admiring Satan. Satan said to Jesus that all these things were his, and if He would worship Satan, He could have it all. To seek the glory of the world is to worship the devil. Most people are more or less in fellowship with demons.

“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.”

When you have fellowship with demons, neither the meetings nor fellowship with the saints are a blessing. You follow along because you think that is the best, but you are not happy and cannot rejoice in the fellowship. God’s Word does not become living, because you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. You must cleanse yourself and flee from idolatry if you want to be able to rejoice in the Lord.

“Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?”

God and demons cannot be united even if we try to give both of them room in our hearts. Such an attitude of mind provokes God to jealousy. Many people have paid a high price for that; for God is not faithful to such a person so that He does not allow him to be tempted beyond what he is able to bear. God is jealous for such a soul and delivers him to his idols, the demons that he worships. This is the root cause of everything that plagues so many people, as well as being the cause of their complaints. People—even those who call themselves believers—are plagued by an innumerable number of things. One moment they believe and are happy, then unbelief pours into their lives and everything appears hopeless. They are plagued by discouragement and despondency. They find the Word living, and understand it while they are listening to it, but they have no sooner come home than everything is gone. All the idols—the demons—steal the Word from them, and in the hour of trial the flesh is given full reign. Thus they are plagued by sin and chastened by their conscience, for God is jealous for them, and it is His desire that they repent and flee idolatry.